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MalWare Alarm tried to get me. Should I run a virus scan?

Recently, while composing an email on Myspace, I was interrupted while typing and redirected to Malware Alarm's website where they tried to get me to install their trojan horse. Obviously, I did not do so; but I am unsure whether the mere fact that I was so abruptly redirected to their website indicates that there might already be spyware (theirs or someone else's) on my computer. Their web page not only popped up while I was typing (i.e., no clicking on any links or anything), but it closed out all my other open Safari windows, which is why I hesitate to call it a mere "pop up." This is the first time I have ever been aware of any viruses, spyware, or trojan horses affecting or attempting to infect my computer, and unless my Macbook came with some sort of virus protection, I do not have any anti-virus software installed. Was this harmless (seeing as I recognized it for what it was and closed it out immediately) or should I assume that something else must have already been installed in order to effectuate the redirection in the first place? If I should be concerned, how do I remedy the situation? Do I run a virus scan? If so, how?

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Nov 2, 2007 2:58 AM

Reply
21 replies

Nov 2, 2007 9:56 AM in response to ksmo

I too find odd that a simple pop-up would be able to close all your active Safari windows. I see in your profle that you're still running 10.4.8. If that's the case, I would update to 10.4.10 and/or apply the many security updates released since 10.4.8 (either via Software Update or manually).

Nov 2, 2007 12:35 PM in response to ksmo

I just thought of this. Duhhh! I have used it so much I never think about it. I was working with Leopard today putting in software and testing it when I remembered it. Little Snitch is great. Even if for some bizarre reason you did get something on your computer it couldn't "dial out" without you knowing it.

I also like it because you would be surprised at the number of software products out there that try and phone home once their installed. Some give the option of disabling the UpDate feature others just don't tell you. With Little Snitch I can pick and choose what programs get to call out.

User uploaded file

Nov 29, 2007 5:45 AM in response to ksmo

Same here! out of the blue my safari was taken over by same thing. At first safari window was resized to a square 1 inch by 1 inch and a msg appeared:
+ http://scanner2.malware_scan.com+
+NOTICE: if your computer has ben running slower than normal+
+it maybe infected with Viruses, Adware or Spyware+
+MalwareAlarm will perform a quick and cmpletely FREE scan of your system+
+for malicious programs.+
+Dawnload MalwareAlarm for FREE now!+
Than there was the option: cancel or OK

Well Macs don't get Viruses, right? so I confidently pressed 'cancel' and then boom my screen was taken over by this website.

I closed safari and reset it. Oh and by the way all this time 'Block pop-up windows' option was checked. Was it just a cookie that triggered all this or there's sth on my disk that I'm not aware of?

Oh and the thing is that for a week now or so (I think since last updates) - my Mac has been in fact sluggish...

Message was edited by: BigPole

Dec 1, 2007 6:12 PM in response to ksmo

I seriously doubt you are all infected since this is most likely javascript. It can close all of your windows, resize windows, redirect you to another site, etc. Javascript is a fully functioning programming language contained within your browser.
I bet if you went into preferences and disabled java and javascript, then you would not encounter these problems. Of course there is a tradeoff, since disabling javascript breaks many websites. I use firefox with the noscript plugin so I can allow javascript only when necessary.

Dec 2, 2007 1:13 AM in response to ksmo

Well, like i said the same thing happened to me. i wouldn't suggest doing anything until consulting w/ someone with expertise. here is my experience - i called Apple Support and reported the problem i had with MalWare Alarm being triggered after logging into my Hotmail account and he said 'Macintosh doesn't get this stuff'. i pointed the customer service representative to this Discussion (among others) and he consulted w/ someone with Macintosh security, after about 10 min. he came back and advised me that an erase and install was in order to get rid of it. The representative also included that it was probably done by watching videos online, downloading an application or a plugin or codec. i consider myself a conservative web surfer, i don't visit any sites that haven't earned my trust. it happens.

Dec 2, 2007 11:23 AM in response to ksmo

I had similar experience with Malware-Alarm. In my case, I had just applied the literally just applied the 10.4.11 update which contains Safari 3. I went to www.zillow.com (real estate) site, entered a street address for the search and got the malware-alarm take over of the session. I did kill the browser session and the downloads look clean.

Dec 2, 2007 6:18 PM in response to dpetersen

HI dpetersen: I jsut checked out that Realty Site: It did do as you stated, but did you notice while it was "Scanning" your computer that it was searching all of those .DLL and.EXE files. Those are windows files, not Mac files.It is just an advertisement, a very clever one, but an advertisement nevertheless. If you are using tabbed browsing, just close the offending Tab and it's gone.

Stedman

MalWare Alarm tried to get me. Should I run a virus scan?

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